Biology

Rich Wagner on September 21st, 2019

The island paradise of Cuba is in peril. Why? After attempts at economic strangulation by US sanctions, not surprisingly, the Cuban government turned to tourism as a source of hard currency. This is especially true on the North Coast. The result of this development imperils the ecology of the island.

Continue reading about Cuba! A Paradise in Peril

Rich Wagner on October 19th, 2015

We seldom photograph in zoos or aquariums, except for pleasure, and our recent trip to Sea World, San Diego was a real pleasure! We were able to go “behind the scenes” to see Tobie, a Bottlenose Dolphin, two days before she delivered her fourth calf. On October 18, 2015, she delivered a beautiful, healthy 40-pound […]

Continue reading about Tobie, a Bottlenose Dolphin at Sea World San Diego, gives birth!

Rich Wagner on August 8th, 2014

Watch this Western Screech Owl wake up! This owl spent the day roosting in an Oleander… but now he’s getting reading for action! No caffeine, but in 5 minutes he goes from Sleepy Boy to Warrior! Click on the Vimeo icon to open the HD video in a new window. Much nicer!  

Continue reading about Screech owl, wake up!

Rich Wagner on November 20th, 2013

I’ve made a ‘top ten list’ of endemic birds that I have photographed in Cuba while surveying birds for the Caribbean Conservation Trust – well, make it the top 12! Several are highly endangered, others just look great. Here they are, in no particular order: Looking for more? You can see a portfolio of large images […]

Continue reading about Top 10 Cuban Birds

Rich Wagner on October 15th, 2013

I just returned from my second two-week trip to Cuba with the Caribbean Conservation Trust to survey and photograph the avian fauna of Cuba. Once again, my guide Raydali O’Farrill was fantastic, as were my local guides Osmany in Guanacahabibes, Caesar in San Diego, and Angel and Orlando in Zapata. This trip was taken prior […]

Continue reading about Another fantastic trip to Cuba!

Rich Wagner on January 1st, 2013

After our recent trip to Cuba, Janet Ruth and Bruce Neville made an interesting observation: we probably saw a lot of male Bee Hummingbirds (Mellisuga helenae) in nonbreeding plumage. Like males of most other hummingbird species, Bee Hummingbird males in breeding plumage (“Definitive Basic Plumage”) are easy to identify – they have fiery metallic/iridescent pinkish-red […]

Continue reading about Sexing Bee Hummingbirds – it’s (not) all in the tail…

Rich Wagner on November 25th, 2012

I just returned from a fantastic two week trip to Cuba with the New Mexico Ornithological Association and the Caribbean Conservation Trust to survey / photograph the avian fauna of Cuba. It will take some time to edit the images from the trip, but overall, the trip was a smashing success, as shown by this […]

Continue reading about Cuba – November 2012 Bird Survey

Rich Wagner on May 2nd, 2012

I recently returned from a 5-week trip to Cambodia and Thailand, with the primary purpose of seeing and photographing as many endangered species as possible. What a fantastic trip! Tons of images and video that will take months to edit and keyword, and 6 endangered species. We’re just starting to get this material online. Photoshop […]

Continue reading about Cambodia and Thailand

Rich Wagner on May 29th, 2011

We love scorpions – especially Centruroides exilicauda – the Bark Scorpion. Bark Scorpions are the only medically important scorpions in the United States. They give a wickedly painful sting that can last for 24 – 48 hours. For kids under two years of age, the sting is potentially fatal. Fortunately, there is a new antivenom […]

Continue reading about Bark Scorpions – fun with light!

Rich Wagner on February 10th, 2011

Our scientific article, SHORT-TAILED HAWKS NESTING IN THE SKY ISLANDS OF THE SOUTHWEST has been published in Western Birds (Vol. 41, No. 4, 2010), and the cover of the issue includes my photo of both adult Short-tailed Hawks at the nest. This is the first fully confirmed Short-tailed Hawk nest in the western U.S. – […]

Continue reading about Short-tailed Hawk article published…